Raspberry plant named ‘Joan J’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rubus idaeus  L. plant is provided that is the product of a controlled breeding program. The new Raspberry plant abundantly forms attractive glossy very large conical-shaped medium red mature fruit of excellent flavor that is longer than broad in configuration. Numerous relatively stout spine-free canes are formed. An early-primocane cropping season is displayed that commonly begins on about July 25 th  and continues to about September 15 th  at Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom. The berries are amenable for consumption as a high grade fresh fruit.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rubus idaeus/Raspberry Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Joan J.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant plant (i.e., Rubus idaeus L.) was created in the course of aplanned breeding program carried out at Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom.Two parents were crossed in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) wasthe ‘Joan Squire’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States) and thesubject of European Plant Breeders Rights Grant No. 5680. The ‘JoanSquire’ cultivar is a cross between two hybrids of complex origin. Themale parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Terri-Louise’ cultivar(non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new cultivarcan be summarized as follows:‘Joan Squire’×‘Teri-Louise’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new cultivar.

It was found that the new Raspberry plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a vigorous and erect growth habit,    -   (b) displays an early-primocane fruiting characteristic and        commonly begins fruiting in early August at Maidstone, Kent,        United Kingdom,    -   (c) forms attractive glossy very large conical-shaped medium red        mature fruit with excellent flavor that is longer than broad in        configuration,    -   (d) displays numerous relatively stout spine-free canes, and    -   (e) is well suited for consumption as high grade fresh fruit.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the berry industry. Theearliness of fruiting, large fruit size and excellent eating qualitiesmake the new cultivar an ideal choice for amateur growers andpick-your-own growers.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its parental cultivars. More specifically, ‘Joan Squire’ cultivardisplays a semi-erect growth habit, commonly forms canes having a lesserthickness, and forms lighter colored pale red fruit that begins to croplater during mid-August. The ‘Terri-Louise’ cultivar forms spiny canesunlike the new cultivar of the present invention.

The new cultivar also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Joan Irene’cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,986) since the new cultivar commonlyflowers and fruits approximately four weeks earlier.

The new cultivar has been found to undergo asexual propagation atMaidstone, Kent, United Kingdom by in vitro tissue culture and by therooting of cuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned methodsas performed at such location has shown that the characteristics of thenew cultivar are strictly transmissible from one generation to another.Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true totype manner.

The new cultivar initially was designated MF93118/5, and subsequentlyhas been named ‘Joan J’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character atypical specimen of the new cultivar. The photograph was obtained onAug. 19, 1998 at Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom. The illustrated planthad been asexually reproduced by the rooting of a cutting that wasplanted during 1997. The upright growth habit and attractive fruit invarious stages of maturity are illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description is based on the observation of specimens of the newcultivar growing at Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom. Observations ofplant growth were made while growing under plastic and the fruit wasobserved under field growing conditions. The plants had been asexuallyreproduced by the rooting of cuttings. Color references is made to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

-   Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus L.-   Plant: Displays a tall, vigorous and erect growth habit. The canes    are relatively numerous, stout, spine-free and commonly are thicker    than those of the ‘Joan Squire’ parental cultivar. A medium number    of young shoots commonly is displayed. The canes commonly display    little or no branching. New canes commonly display a slight bloom.    The internode lengths at mid-cane typically measure approximately    60 mm. The leaves commonly bear three or five leaflets. Young shoots    and the leaf petioles commonly are near Yellow-Green Group 145B in    coloration. The tips of young shoots commonly do not bear    anthocyanin coloration. Petioles typically measure approximately 55    to 60 mm in length. The leaves commonly are relatively flat and    display three or five leaflets. Terminal leaflets commonly are    approximately 95 mm in length and approximately 70 mm in width. In    cross section the leaves display little or no tendency to assume a    concave configuration. The upper surfaces of mature leaves are near    Green Group 137B in coloration, and the under surfaces of mature    leaves are near Green Group 138B in coloration.-   Flowering: Begins early on current season's canes. The flowering    time is close to that of the ‘Autumn Bliss’ Cultivar (U.S. Plant    Pat. No. 6,597). In the south of England flowering commonly begins    about June 24^(th) and continues to about July 25^(th).-   Bearing type: Fruit is mainly borne on the current season's canes.    The time of fruit ripening on a current season's cane is early and    commonly begins about July 25^(th) and continues to about September    15th at Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom. This can be compared to a    first ripening time of mid-August for the ‘Joan Squire’ parental    cultivar at the same location. The start of ripening is similar to    that of the ‘Autumn Bliss’ cultivar at the same location. The new    cultivar has not been assessed for double cropping.-   Fruit: Attractive very large conical-shaped fruit is formed that is    longer than broad. Typical yields are approximately 20 percent    greater than those of ‘Autumn Bliss’ cultivar primarily reflecting    an increase of fruit weight of approximately the same magnitude. The    earliest formed fruits during the first three weeks of the season    commonly weigh approximately 6 grams on average and the fruits    formed during the second three weeks of the season commonly weigh    approximately 4 grams on average to provide an overall fruit weight    of approximately 5 grams throughout the season. The fruit color is    an attractive glossy medium red at full maturity that is near Red    Group 58B in coloration. The coloration further darkens when the    fruit is over-ripe. The fruit flavor is excellent. The attractive    fruits tend to readily separate from the receptacle and commonly    measure approximately 30 mm in length and approximately 25 mm in    width at the widest point. The pedicels are near Yellow-Green Group    145B in coloration.-   Resistance to pests and diseases: During observations to date the    new cultivar of the present invention has displayed adequate    resistance to all pests and diseases encountered at Maidstone, Kent,    United Kingdom.-   Market: The berries are suitable for consumption as a high grade    fresh fruit and also are amenable to processing.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Raspberry plant having the following combination of characteristics: (a) displays a vigorous and erect growth habit, (b) displays an early-primocane fruiting characteristic and commonly beings fruiting on about July 25^(th) at Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom, (c) forms attractive glossy very large conical-shaped medium red mature fruit with excellent flavor that is longer than broad in configuration, (d) displays numerous relatively stout spine-free canes, and (e) is well suited for consumption as high grade fresh fruit; substantially as illustrated and described. 